Sumatran

Toba people (also referred to as Batak Toba people or often simply "Batak") are the most numerous of the Batak people of North Sumatra, Indonesia, and often considered the classical 'Batak', most likely to willingly self-identify as Batak.

The Batak Toba people speak in the Toba Batak language and are centered on Lake Toba and Samosir Island within the lake.

The Batak script, or Surat Batak, is sometimes used to write the Batak languages, which are spoken in the north of Sumatra in Indonesia. Traditionally the Batak script was only used by datu (priests), and they used it to write magical texts and calendars, such as the item in the collection..

• Alan E. Cole
• MOWRC